Do you love your parts washer?

[davepl]

I'm looking to buy a parts washer to help in my frame-off, for things like control arms and other grimy items. I was thinking of a drum-mounted so I could get a chemical service company to come out and change the drum as needed, though I wouldn't need it anywhere near as often as a real shop would. I'd rather not have the hassle and liability of trying to dispose of the solvents myself, I figure.

Any reason -not- to get a drum-mount?

It looks like the 20gal units on Amazon in the $150 range are getting poor reviews and the Snap-on unit is like $1500, out of my market.

I was hoping there'd be something in the $300 range that's not total junk, but it helps to get recommendations from people that like their unit.

So... anyone have a parts washer they like that they can recommend?

- Dave

[davepl]

BTW, if anyone knows roughly what it costs for Safety-Kleen to come out and replace the drum, I'm curious. I've speent the last 20 minutes trying to find it on their website, but other than a $20 fuel surcharge (!) due to diesel prices, I can't find it...

[Livrat]

I have the old "sink on a 30 gal drum" washer. I bought it at Costco many years ago so cannot really recommend a particular brand,
Safety Kleen has gotten so expensive for the service and they will put you on a contract and show up every six weeks to the tune of $250 or so..
I have found if you travel down to their Auburn store and get 3 of their home units, a 5 gal plastic container/washer tub, dump it all in your sink on a drum, use it till its dirty, dump it back in their home unit and return it when needed. they run about $50 each.

[GMR-PERFORMANCE]

safety kleen I pay 109 bucks for the fluid change every 3 months or earlier if I need it but I have two units, But the washer is free ..

[PanelDeland]

This is gonna sound a little bit crazy but here goes.Look for a used self heating dishwasher.Or Hook it up to hot water and use one of the dry powder degreasers.Run your parts in it.I know it sound crazy and the seals will eventually go out,but if you look at auto matic parts washers from "Hotsy","Landa" and other companies,you will find that they are just heavy duty versions of a dishwaher.Alternately you can wait until your better half is out of town and use the one in the kitchen.Just scrape and wire brush as much as possible first like you would with any parts washer.Most of the commercial powder degreasers are also eco friendly.i.e. you can dump it in the sewer but not the storm drain

[eightbanger]

I do mine by hand in the shower..

Sorry!

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by davepl

BTW, if anyone knows roughly what it costs for Safety-Kleen to come out and replace the drum, I'm curious. I've speent the last 20 minutes trying to find it on their website, but other than a $20 fuel surcharge (!) due to diesel prices, I can't find it...

Safety-Kleen has more fees and charges for this that and the other. I had a quote from them of 150 to come out and change my solvent. By the time I got the bill it was 235 with fuel charges epa charges, and others. They set me up on a monthly change , I want "on call" and I had to fight them on that. I use it only on occasion. I finally had to throw the driver out of the shop and tell him not to come back. They charged me a fuel surcharged of $18 and didn't even move their truck from the customer across the alley. You can get good solvent from a local supplier and its about the same cost . The issue is when its dirty you need a way of getting rid of it.

[davepl]

Thanks for the info! I'll call them on Monday and find out about whether they'll do "come when I call but not on a schedule", which I imagine they won't want to do.

You can buy the parts washer on their website, but variously I've heard they give it to you for free if you sign up for the service. Did you pay for yours or was it gratis with the service plan?

[dwcsr]

The service was $235 the first time and like $180 the next time so the solvent is never actually free. But it I needed to get rid of the old stuff that was beyond useful and that was expensive if I just had a recycler come get it. If you crud it up often then it may be worth the cost but I had my original solvent for 4 or 5 years before it was to dirty to clean.

[davepl]

No, I meant the actual parts washer machine itself; it's listed on their website for $600 or something. Did you ever have to outlay the cash for it or did they just give it to you when you got your first drum of solvent at signup time?

[dwcsr]

I had the washer, its a 40 gallon washer, but you can get one from Northertool for $150 thats 25 gallon

[W. Higgins]

Find a good used Graymills Clean-O-Matic parts washer. It may take some looking, but a decent one can be had in the $500 range. You won't regret it. Eventually, you'll want to do something like set a transmission in there and the piece of mind you get from not having to worry about your parts washer toppling over on you is priceless. You can also straddle a differential over it and wash it out:

http://partswashers-pumps.graymills....parts-washers?

I hate Safety-Kleen and use FCC Environmental, but they don't reach your corner of the country. There is probably a similar alternative out your way. FCC will come only when I call (which at times has been years) and are very reasonable on their solvent prices -- about a 1/3rd of Safety-Kleen's prices. Having a drum saves you nothing. These guys travel with pumps and will pump out the old and pump in the new.

[RAYDAY]

i got a cheap china one from craigslist for 30$ use off road deisle in it work great. cost $40 to refill/change

[davepl]

What do you refill/change it with for $40? What kind of solvent?

[RAYDAY]

Originally Posted by davepl

What do you refill/change it with for $40? What kind of solvent?

DEISLE i use off road grade its cheaper!lol works as good as the solevent thats 3 time the $$$$$$

[Weasel Diesel]

"Do You Love Your Parts Washer?" Yep, shure do... been married to her for 20 years... she cooks good too.... Seriously... I have the one from Summit Racing, does great and I buy my solvent at Tractor Supply.

[_Ogre]

i use an oil drain pan and buy gallon jugs of mineral spirits.
probably only bought 4 gallons in 6 years...

[butch86]

i made one of my own from an old stainless steel sink for the manual side and for a cabinate side i osed black pipe to make 2 sprayer poles with high pressure nozzels 5 down each side and 4 on top. only the nozzels are inside the can (55 gal) i have a old 14inch wheel in the bottom that spins inside about 20 rpm hooked to a 1/3rd hp electric motor. i have a old 10 gal electric water heater from and old rv that i run the solvent through. it only heats the solvent to about 110degree but that cleans it well with good solvent in it. i get the powder solvent from a local dealer. the presure is provided by an old pump and motor from a industeral preassure washer. it has a few strainers and filters on it i have to clean out after every good use. its a decent pay out for the job it does cleaning

[ETsC10]

Originally Posted by butch86

i made one of my own from an old stainless steel sink for the manual side and for a cabinate side i osed black pipe to make 2 sprayer poles with high pressure nozzels 5 down each side and 4 on top. only the nozzels are inside the can (55 gal) i have a old 14inch wheel in the bottom that spins inside about 20 rpm hooked to a 1/3rd hp electric motor. i have a old 10 gal electric water heater from and old rv that i run the solvent through. it only heats the solvent to about 110degree but that cleans it well with good solvent in it. i get the powder solvent from a local dealer. the presure is provided by an old pump and motor from a industeral preassure washer. it has a few strainers and filters on it i have to clean out after every good use. its a decent pay out for the job it does cleaning

Sounds intriguing. Any pics?

I surely prefer the self-owned idea but there may be room for the contracted
services for some of us.

I'm not big on cleaning service companies, but with the high price of solvent and
proper disposal (not to mention the nasty job of cleaning out a dirty solvent tank),
the cost can be easier to justify.
There are definite advantages to their owning the equipment as well... if/when the pump,
fire melt or electrical gives up the ghost, they cover the equipment.




.